Liquid dispenser



Dec. 22, 1964 D. E. GOLDICH 3,161,904

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 INVENTOR David E. Goldi'h United States Patent 3,161,904 LEQUID DESPENSER David E. Goldich, Lake Forest, ltih, assignor to The Permalux Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,694 9 Claims. (Ci. -528) This invention relates to a container for use in the storing and application of liquid materials. In one particular application for the container of this invention, lubricant may be stored and dispensed with the use of the container; however, the provision of other liquid materials in the container is also contemplated.

It is well-known that many liquid materials are advantageously stored in containers from which they can be dispensed in small amounts. Containers for lubricants have been widely employed and, in general, the containers are provided with small openings at one end whereby drops of the lubricant can be dispensed. The present invention comprises a container construction which is capable of dispensing lubricants or other liquid materials in a manner equally as well as prior containers. In addition, the container of this invention provides means for dispensing the liquids in distinct ways whereby the lubricant or other liquid can be most advantageously applied in accordance with the requirements of a particular situation.

It is, accordingly, one object of this invention to provide a container for liquids which is characterized by distinct outlet means to permit dispensing of the liquid therein in selective fashion.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a container construction which is adapted for dispensing lubricants and similar liquid materials in a manner such that application of the materials can be undertaken in different fashions depending on the requirements of a given situation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container construction which is characterized by an extremely economical and efilcient structure whereby the advantages of the container can be achieved without an undue increase in manufacturing expense.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container con- .ruction of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container construction having the cap members removed; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating one end of the container construction.

The liquid container of this invention generally cornprises a tubular body having openings defined in each end. One of the openings is constricted whereby small amounts of the liquid material can be dispensed through this opening in the form of drops or in simflar small amounts. The other opening for the container is provided with a wick member, with one end of this wick member extending into communication with the liquid in the tubular body while the other end extends out- Wardly of the end of the body whereby the liquid material which saturates the wick can be applied through contact with this exposed end.

The container construction is characterized by many features which contribute to its economical nature. The elements thereof are preferably formed of plastic which can be obtained and formed at little expense. Furthermore, the end members which define the constricted opening and the opening for the wick member can be formed ice in generally the same configuration so that manufacturing costs are held to a minimum. Finally, the assembly of the various members into the final product involves only a few simple operations, this feature further adding to the economy which characterizes this invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a container 10 which comprises a tubular body portion 12 and end members l4 and 16. As best shown in FlGURE 3, the end members include an inner cylindrical section 18 having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the tubular body. Accordingly, the end members can be teiescoped within the tubular body to provide the desired assembly. A shoulder portion 20 formed in the end members provides for the proper position of the end members relative to the tubular body.

Each of the end members includes a neck portion 22 having external threads 24 formed therein. The external threads are provided for application of caps 26 which define corresponding internal threads. A shoulder portion 28 is formed at the base of the neck to provide for positioning of the caps. in addition, this shoulder portion is dimensioned to approximate the outer diameter of the cap base 39 whereby continuity in the appearance of the container is provided with the caps in place.

The neck portion of the cap 16 comprises an elongated portion 32 which terminates in a constricted opening 54. This opening is preferably designed whereby drops of the liquid in the container will be dispensed through the opening. Dispensing of the drops can be accomplished either by inverting the container or by applying pressure with the fingers on the plastic side walls of the tubular body. It will be appreciated that the size of the opening 34 can be modified in order to vary the manner in which the liquid in the container will be dispensed. Obviously, streams of the liquid could be dispensed if desired.

The end member 14 defines a shorter neck portion including the section 36 which defines an opening for receiving the wick member. The wick member includes an outwardly extending portion 40 which may define a flattened applicating surface. The opposite end 42 of the wick member extends into the body whereby the Wick member can be saturated with the liquid therein.

It will be noted that the end member 14 substantially corresponds to the configuration of the end member 6 with the exception of the neck portions 36 and 32, respectively. The end member 14 can be formed from the same stock as the member lo by merely cutting off excess portion of the section 32 as suggested by the dash line :4 in FIGURE 3. By removing this excess portion, a larger opening sufiicient to receive the wick 38 will be provided.

It will be appreciated that the container of this invention can be assembled in a relatively simple fashion. In one assembly sequence, the end member 16 can be telescoped for assembly with the tubular body, with or without the use of a cement. With the cap member for this end member in place, liquid can be included in the tubular body and the end member 14 can then be positioned. The wick 38 is then inserted through the opening in the end member 14 and the other cap member can then be screwed on to complete the assembly. In this connecton, it is contemplated that the liquid material can be included in the container through the opening provided for the wick. Thus, the container can be refilled if desired.

in a preferred form of the instant invention, the tubular container and the end members are formed of polyolefin. The end members and the tubular body can then be connected by means of a spin welding technique. in such a procedure, one member is rotatedat a high speed While the other member remains stationary. A friction created at the interface of the respective members provides for the generation of heat and the members can then be welded together in a fraction of a second.

In one contemplated use of the container, a lubricant of the type employed for electric shavers or safety razor blades, is included in the container. The drop dispensing end can be utilized for access to certain areas of a shaver while the wick applicator may be employed for applying the lubricant to flat blade surfaces. With respect to the blade surfaces, it is well-known that these surfaces become dull due to corrosion, and corrosive activity is in many cases more detrimental than is use of the cutting edges. The device of this invention is effective for applying lubricant and rust inhibitor to the cutting edges in a safe manner since actual contact with the cutting edges by the fingers is obviated with this device. The wick is preferably formed of a felt material which has been found to have the desired characteristics for an applicator of this nature.

There has been described a container construction which includes two separate and distinct means for applying liquid materials stored in the container. Furthermore, the container characterized by these advantages is capable of manufacture, assembly and use in a highly economical fashion. It will be understood that various changes and modifications of this container construction which provide these advantageous features without departing from the spirit of this invention are contemplated, particularly as defined by the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A liquid container comprising a tubular body, openings defined in each end of said tubular body, one of said openings comprising a constricted end whereby small amounts of said liquid can be removed from said body, a wick member located in the other of said openings whereby said liquid can be applied to a surface through contact with said other member, and closures for each end of said container.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubular body is formed of a plastic material and wherein said other member comprises a porous felt material.

3. A liquid container comprising a plastic tubular body, plastic end members secured to said tubular body, openings defined in each of said end members, one of said openings comprising a constricted end whereby small amounts of said liquid can be removed from said body,

a wick member located in the other of said openings whereby said liquid can be applied to a'surface through contact with said other member, and closures for each end of said container. I

4.A container in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said end members comprises a tubular end portion having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of said tubular body and wherein said plastic comprises polyolefin and said end members are spin-welded to said tubular body.

5. A liquid container comprising a tubular body, and members secured to said tubular body, externally threaded neck portions formed in each of said end members, openings defined in each of said neck portions, one of said openings comprising a constricted end portion whereby small amounts of said liquid can be removed from said body, a Wick member located in the other of said openings whereby said liquid can be applied to a surface through contact through said wick member, and internally threaded caps forming closures for each of said containers.

6. A liquid container comprising a plastic tubular body, plastic end members secured to said tubular body, neck portions formed in each of said end members, each of said neck portions defining external threads, openings defined in each of said neck portions, one of said openings being constricted whereby drops of said liquid can be removed from said body, a wick member, the other of said openings being dimensioned to receive and retain said wick member, said wick member including a portion extending into said tubular body and adapted to contact the liquid in said body whereby the wick member will be saturated with said liquid, the other end of said wick member extending outwardly beyond its associated opening and including a flattened end portion for application of said liquid.

7. A container in accordance with claim 6 wherein said tubular body is uniformly dimensioned whereby the portions of said end members engaging said tubular body can be formed of uniform dimensions, and wherein the dimensions of the external threads in each of said neck portions are uniform, and including internally threaded caps for forming closures at each end of said container.

8. A container in accordance with claim 7 wherein the neck portions of said end members taper inwardly toward the outer ends thereof, and wherein an opening. larger than said constricted opening and dimensioned to receive said wick member can be provided in one end member by severing off a section of said neck portion.

9. A container for applying liquid lubricant and rust inhibitor to a shaving device comprising a plastic tubular body, plastic end members secured to said tubular body, neck portions formed in each of said end members, each of said neck portions defining external threads, openings defined in each of said neck portions, one of said openings being constricted whereby drops .of said liquid can be removed from said body, a wick member, the other of said openings being dimensioned to receive and retain said wick member, said wick member includ ing a portion extending into said tubular body and adapted to contact the liquid in said body whereby the wick member will be saturated with said liquid, the other end of said wick member extending outwardly beyond its associated opening and including a flattened end portion for application of said liquid, said wick member being utilized for application of said liquid to the cutting edges of said device.

References eras in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A LIQUID CONTAINER COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY, OPENINGS DEFINED IN EACH END OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, ONE OF SAID OPENINGS COMPRISING A CONSTRICTED END WHEREBY SMALL AMOUNTS OF SAID LIQUID CAN BE REMOVED FROM SAID BODY, A WICK MEMBER LOCATED IN THE OTHER OF SAID OPENINGS WHEREBY SAID LIQUID CAN BE APPLIED TO A SURFACE THROUGH CONTACT WITH SAID OTHER MEMBER, AND CLOSURES FOR EACH END OF SAID CONTAINER. 